Five big European countries – England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France – could face a broadcast blackout of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This comes after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said offers from some broadcasters were “still very disappointing and a slap in the face” for women’s football.
Speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, Infantino called on broadcasters to pay a fair prize for the women’s game, like they were doing for men’s football.
Infantino reminded all that FIFA has increased to USD 152 the prizemoney to be share by the 32 teams that will feature in Australia and New Zealand – which is three times what the 24 nations received in 2019 in France and ten times more than in 2015.
He added that the money the broadcasters will put in, will go directly to women’s football.
“The offers from broadcasters, mainly in the ‘Big 5’ European countries, are still very disappointing and simply not acceptable based on four criteria. Firstly, 100% of any rights fees paid would go straight into women’s football, in our move to promote actions towards equal conditions and pay. Secondly, public broadcasters in particular have a duty to promote and invest in women’s sport,” said Infantino.
“Thirdly, the viewing figures of the FIFA Women’s World Cup are 50-60% of the men’s FIFA World Cup (which in turn are the highest of any event), yet the broadcasters’ offers in the ‘Big 5’ European countries for the FIFA Women’s World Cup are 20 to 100 times lower than for the men’s FIFA World Cup. Finally, and concretely, whereas broadcasters pay USD 100-200 million for the men’s FIFA World Cup, they offer only USD 1-10 million for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. This is a slap in the face of all the great FIFA Women’s World Cup players and indeed of all women worldwide.”
The FIFA President said they may have to find alternatives and not broadcast the upcoming women’s global football showpiece in the five countries.
“To be very clear, it is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Therefore, should the offers continue not to be fair (towards women and women’s football), we will be forced not to broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup into the ‘Big 5’ European countries. I call, therefore, on all players (women and men), fans, football officials, Presidents, Prime Ministers, politicians and journalists all over the world to join us and support this call for a fair remuneration of women’s football. Women deserve it! As simple as that!” added Infantino.
The issue of unequal broadcast fees was first raised by the FIFA supremo during the Women’s World Cup draw in Auckland seven months ago.
There was no movement on the stance of the TV broadcasters and Infantino reiterated the matter at the FIFA Congress in Kigali in March – where the world football governing body announced the increase in prize money for the women’s game.
The tournament is already two months away and it appears there is still no sign of a change of heart from the broadcasters, hence the latest statement by Infantino.
Due to the time-zone difference, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches will be held outside prime-time viewing hours for not just European markets but also for several countries – but Infantino said that was no excuse.
According to a FIFA audit, the 2019 Women’s World Cup had some 1.12 billion viewers.
By Matlhomola Morake
